Hi. The bosslady wants to sell her 2006 Yamaha TT-R230.
My specialty is just buying bikes, not selling. I tend to not sell off the old one.
I am looking for advice on how to best market/ advertise it. It has a whopping 3 hours of pasture riding on it. I bought about $30 worth of miscellaneous bolts and nut, plus a $40 Yamaha hour meter that I never got around to installing. She has some gear too.
Basically, she tried riding and didn't care for it. She is not wanting to try a different bike. What do you guys think would be a good way to sell it?
I've sold about 30 or more bikes on craigslist. They allow up to 8 photos now, and they upload the pictures directly. I keep my *.jpg pictures under 1 meg and they load pretty fast. The only downside is scammers - but I've only had a couple in all the time I've been selling, and it was obvious what they were (they're not the brightest stars, that's for sure).
Before craigslist it used to take months to sell, now if the price and bike are a good match, a week or two on average.
it helps a LOT having a CLEAN bike.
The bikes I sold were always in great shape, clean, bearings inspected, cleaned, greased and replaced if needed...and I advertise for it. It's kind of having the bike ready for a ride.
A clear and complete description with pics is a must IMHO.
When I'm looking for a bike on CL I don't even bother if they don't have pics or if the description is weak.
I also usually have a set of "spare parts" I throw in when the bartering gets tough. aim a bit higher than what you expect and let the barter begin!
02 KX 200 hybrid: RB head and carb
Sold ☹ DRZ 400 SM
Definitely try Craigslist. Best way to sell IMO. Definitely start a few hundred higher than your bottom dollar, because people love to haggle. Great idea from scheckaet on the spare parts / gear "bonus". Leave it out of the ad, and have it for bargaining when you get close to a deal.
If the bike has 3 hours on it and you have a new hour meter then put it on and run the time up on the meter up to match. A brand new meter on a used bike is a sign to me that they are trying to hide things. As said before make sure it is CLEAN! The people I ride with make a killing off craigs list by buying and selling bikes. They find the sweet deals and clean them up then re list them for more $$$. I went with them to buy a TT-R 125 and five days, a new air filter, and a bath later they made $800 more then they paid for it. Don't be afraid to go a little over board with the description because everyone else is. I wouldn't lie, but the truth can be streached a little.
Bringing up a woman rider tends to make most people think that the bike was babied and not abused.
As far as where to meet people, I would lean toward meeting at a neutral place. 1, so they don't know where you live. there is a lot of wack jobs out there. A friend of mine sold a street bike in great shape and three days later the people called him back wanting there money back because they blew it up and dropped it. They met at his house to buy it... They never showed back up but he was still pretty nervous. 2, There is a lot of wack jobs out there. They might just be stopping by to see what you have to come back latter. I live in a very secluded spot and I like to keep it that way so I may just be a bit paranoid.
As for the test ride and cash in hand, I think you could tell from the first couple of minutes if you need to. Make sure they are serious and seem like they have the means to buy it before they take a free ride. Otherwise cash in hand.
I like the idea of meeting up somewhere neutral as well for the same reasons, of course, since your selling a dirt bike just pick a spot where they could try it out and use that as an excuse for not letting them know where you live
newbbewb wrote:DIYmirage has it right.
-1996 KDX 200 woods weapon (converted to 99 green body)
-1996 KDX 200 plated street toy (barneyedition) -2003 Yamaha TTR125-L (wifeys bike) -1997 KDX 220 project bike
rbates9 wrote:Bringing up a woman rider tends to make most people think that the bike was babied and not abused.
As far as where to meet people, I would lean toward meeting at a neutral place. 1, so they don't know where you live. there is a lot of wack jobs out there. A friend of mine sold a street bike in great shape and three days later the people called him back wanting there money back because they blew it up and dropped it. They met at his house to buy it... They never showed back up but he was still pretty nervous. 2, There is a lot of wack jobs out there. They might just be stopping by to see what you have to come back latter. I live in a very secluded spot and I like to keep it that way so I may just be a bit paranoid.
As for the test ride and cash in hand, I think you could tell from the first couple of minutes if you need to. Make sure they are serious and seem like they have the means to buy it before they take a free ride. Otherwise cash in hand.
Great advise ^ I buy, sell, and trade on clist all the time I always try not to meet at my place but sometimes its unavoidable. I try to talk to the potential buyer and get comfortable with them before meeting I usually ask where they ride and that usually gets a good conversation going and if they seem sketchy then I suddenly don't have time to meet them. When you are meeting with someone have the bike ready to go do not let them know where you store your goodies just have it out and ready when they get there and you'll be fine.
I had a friend who used to store his bikes in a locked shed he met with someone who talked him into showing him his other bikes and didn't end up buying one about a week later while he was at work the lock was cut and everything gone gave the guys number to the police and the next day they had his bikes he was lucky the guy was stupid enough to use his actual phone.
1990 KDX200FMF Fatty, Answer VFC silencer, VForce 3 Cage, Wiseco Piston, KX125-J series KYB USD fork conversion, Race tech goldvalves, J series front brake assembly, air-box snorkel removed, Acerbis Headlight, KX450F Front fender, Pro Taper RM bend bars, ASV front Brake lever, MSR Clutch perch and lever, RB Head mod, 36mm PWK carb, Trail Tech Kickstand.
Like KDXOhio, I've had a bit of experience on Clist, with pretty much the same advise. I'm lucky enough to live near a few areas that are wide open and available for test riding, and I always drag along a buddy (and my .40 buddy as well). I usually have the bike off the trailer, warmed up and ready to ride before they get there, and you can tell pretty quick who's buying and who's not. Don't be afraid to say "F it" and load the bike up and drive away if they are sketchy. It's riding season, so if they are serious about finding a ride it'll show.
As for the bike, lots of good pics and a lengthy description go a long way, and depending on the state a good clear title in hand (always an issue here in WA, since it needs a title to get ORV tags). As mentioned by others, you can always hold back her gear to offer as incentive to close the deal once you get close. A quick search will let you know what price range is viable.
Thanks for all the advice guys. I think any test rides will be done inside where I rent a storage building. It will be cash in hand before a ride inside the keypad locked outdoor area.
agree with all that is said EXCEPT the statement to warm up the motor
if I check out a bike the first thing I do before I start it is feel if the engine is warm
if it is I feel like the seller is trying to hide something (along the lines of, sure, it starts on the first kick now that its warm but he spend 15 minutes kicking it to get it going when it was cold)
newbbewb wrote:DIYmirage has it right.
-1996 KDX 200 woods weapon (converted to 99 green body)
-1996 KDX 200 plated street toy (barneyedition) -2003 Yamaha TTR125-L (wifeys bike) -1997 KDX 220 project bike
Im gonna have to agree I look extra hard at a bike that seems to have been warmed up ill usually stall as long as possible before trying to start it about 45 minutes is my record!
1990 KDX200FMF Fatty, Answer VFC silencer, VForce 3 Cage, Wiseco Piston, KX125-J series KYB USD fork conversion, Race tech goldvalves, J series front brake assembly, air-box snorkel removed, Acerbis Headlight, KX450F Front fender, Pro Taper RM bend bars, ASV front Brake lever, MSR Clutch perch and lever, RB Head mod, 36mm PWK carb, Trail Tech Kickstand.
If your looking for the best way to set up a clist add then just go on there and look for some bikes your interested in and see what adds jump out at you. That will give you an idea on how to write the add.
